5 sleepers at forward the Blackhawks must consider in the 2024 NHL Draft

Will Zellers, F/Shattuck-St. Mary’s

Will Zellers also carries a slight frame, so that’s one reason he could likely fall out of the first two rounds. Another reason is that he’s never seen much action in the USHL or the CHL leagues, playing in just one game for the Green Bay Gamblers, in which he scored a goal in that lone appearance. 

That said, he’s been well over a point-per-game player since 2021-22 when he put up 79 in 61 games, plus 37 goals in 15U AAA. He also logged an incredible 111 points and 57 goals in 54 contests this past season in USHS Prep, plus an additional 22 points and 12 goals in 14 games in the PHC. 

For Zellers, it’s all about growing into his frame, which is currently 5’11, 170 lbs. Luckily for him, he will have that opportunity at the University of North Dakota, where he can both put on muscle and show that adding lean body mass won’t affect his high-octane approach. 

Of all the players listed, Zellers may boast more potential than anyone else, as he’s already proven to be not just one of the best scorers here but also one of the finest in the 2024 draft. Now, he must answer the question of whether he’s capable of repeating those results at a much higher level of play.